Trek India

Four nurses from Keech Hospice Care along with ten other staff and supporters from the charity, will be trekking across the tough terrain of Kerala, South India on the challenge of a lifetime in memory of their patients, and to raise money for terminally ill adults and children.

It’s hoped the trek will raise thousands of pounds to help Keech Hospice Care continue its excellent support for life-limited adults and children. Hear from some of the trekkers:

Lynn Russell, group leader and events fundraiser:

“Thanks to Ashton Middle School in Dunstable, some of India’s school children will have new pens, pencils, highlighters, and exercise and reading books. When Ashton Middle School closed down last summer, the head teacher, Shirley Hollis, kindly invited Keech to take anything we felt would be useful to take with us on the trek. Luton Town Football Club has also donated 30 shirts and I can’t wait to see the children’s faces and watch them kicking a ball around wearing them!”

Thank you toLuton Town Football Club who kindly donated 30 football shirts for the team to take with them to India and give to the school children who they are visiting during the trek. If you would like to donate items to give to the children of Kerala, please contact Lynn through her email.

Kerry Duffy, senior staff nurse:

“Creepy crawlies, leeches, snakes, tigers, lack of toilets and camping are at the top of my worry list! I’m 30 next year and on the adult inpatient unit at Keech Hospice Care, we’ve sadly had a lot of patients around my age who have died recently. It makes me appreciate life."

"I’ve never done anything like this before but I just said to myself - go for it! Live life! As a charity, Keech Hospice Care has to raise 70% of its funding from its community. I want to be sure we can continue to provide exceptional care to patients and their families at a time in their lives they need it most. We laugh about the fact we’re a hospice which runs on cake, so we’ve had copious bake sales to raise money for the trek and the nurses have held casino, quiz and curry nights.”

Shirley Gadsden, nurse manager for the adult in-patient unit:

“The group’s a pretty mixed bag, ranging from the hospice’s nurses and a doctor to our receptionist and fundraisers. We’re worried about what we’re going to face. We’ve been in training as the trek is classed as ‘challenging’. It’s three days and we’ll be walking about 15km a day in the middle of nowhere over tough terrain and sleeping in tents. When the tough times come, I’ll be thinking of my patients and that’ll push me through.”

The group departs from Keech Hospice Care, Luton, on Sunday 2 October 2016 and will walk in support of national Hospice Care Week which runs from 3 to 9 October 2016.

Follow their progress on Facebook where we will be posting updates from the group about how they are getting on in India.

Support the trekkers:

Visit their Just Giving page to sponsor and support the trekkers on their challenge!

As a charity, Keech Hospice Care has to raise 70% of its funding from its community. I want to be sure we can continue to provide exceptional care to patients and their families at a time in their lives they need it most.

Kerry Duffy, Senior Nurse

For more information and images contact Lorna Milton, Senior PR Officer at Keech Hospice Care on 01582 497874/07795498591 or at lmilton@keech.org.uk.